Hello everyone, I need some help.

I am trying to design a circuit that will control three LED's. I need two steady LED's and a flashing strobe LED. This will be mounted on my RC heli and act as directional lights and a tail strobe.

The problem is, I want the tail LED strobe to blink twice really fast and then pause, then twice really fast and pause....etc. much like a real airplane strobe.

I could easily just make it blink, but i like that extra little touch....Could you help me out with this?

I have limited electronics experience, I can solder and build small simple circuits, but thats it.

Thanks for you help!

 

It sounds like your easiest solution would be a micro controller. PIC10F or AVR Tiny11. Either one less than $1.

 

Twice really fast and pause.
Is it Pause or OFF.Pause has to do in another way.

What about Twice really fast and OFF?

What about taking 4017 two outputs to LED's & the third output to last outputs to keeping free.

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Gayan

My Website
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hi,

One way would be a 555 timer [low rate] driving a 4017 [counter > 0 to 9]

A diode from '0' and from say '2' to a resistor/transistor driving the aft/tail LED. You could use a FET if preferred.

Action: flash, blank,flash,blank.........................blank, repeating, is the what you mean?

__________________
Eric
"Good enough is Perfect"

PIC tutorials:
Gramo's: www.digital-diy.net/
Bill's: www.blueroomelectronics.com/

 

hi,
The simplest low cost/weight/size I can suggest is this circuit.

Gives a double flash then a double break..........

Are you able to work out the component values yourself?

__________________
Eric
"Good enough is Perfect"

PIC tutorials:
Gramo's: www.digital-diy.net/
Bill's: www.blueroomelectronics.com/

 

ill give those ideas a try. I have never worked with a circuit like this, so, no I dont think i can work out the values right now, but ill so some research.

Regarding micro controllers, I like that idea and would like to get into them, but dont have the slightest idea how. You say there are a few bucks, but dont you have to have a setup to pragram them? the BASIC kit i looked at started around $50 i think, way more than i can afford to spend to make a few lights flash...

no, im looking for Flash, Flash, Blank........FLash, Flash, blank.........

 

hi sam
>>
no, im looking for Flash, Flash, Blank........FLash, Flash, blank.........

Its not possible to have Flash, Flash, Blank......... from one LED???
You must have an LED off period between the flashes or you not see the separate flashes,
the off time will short but it will be still be blank!

Look at the last 4093 circuit I posted.

__________________
Eric
"Good enough is Perfect"

PIC tutorials:
Gramo's: www.digital-diy.net/
Bill's: www.blueroomelectronics.com/

 

One small 8 pin microcontroller is smaller and same cost as your three #1,2 & 3 chips. uC is smallest & lowest cost solution.

 

hi,
There are not 3 ic's in my circuit, one 4093 has 4 logic gates, it will also work from 3V thru 12V, whatever is available on the chopper.

The guy says he has no programming knowledge, no programming or development hardware and as he points out,
the sums he's done show a $50 outlay.

So how can a 25Cent chip cost as much, overall, as buying all the kit he needs to produce a PIC solution?

__________________
Eric
"Good enough is Perfect"

PIC tutorials:
Gramo's: www.digital-diy.net/
Bill's: www.blueroomelectronics.com/

 

Sam, do you know anyone that could program a micro for you? It would be a really simple task for one, and depending on the size of the LED, you could drive it directly off the I/O port of the micro, saving the need for a transistor.

I have to say I admire Eric's circuit though I can easily do this with a micro, but am lost when it comes to doing it analog, i'm lost. lol

 

YES IT IS. But I don't have time to draw up the Circuit right now.

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You won't even see an LED with only 10mA unless it is pitch black dark outside. Then the helicopter won't be seen so you won't be able to fly it.
The CD4093 has a max output current of only about 10mA with a 9V supply.

LEDs are directional. They can hardly be seen unless they shine in your direction.

If you want a strobe light then use a strobe light, not an LED.

__________________
Uncle $crooge

 

use the 4093 output stage as a driver for a mosfet, and have it strobe a luxeon - you'll see that even during the day.

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Now you are talking about using lots of current for a big LED. The little helicopter won't be able to lift its battery.

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Uncle $crooge

 

On my Blade CP, the 9.6 volt NiMH battery pack is 650 mAH, and gives 10-15 minutes flight time, well the manual says it does. Yet to keep in the air for 30 seconds... Not sure, but a second battery pack of the same weight would be kind of a strain to lift. Using the heli's battery would seriously reduce the flight time.

I've got some LED christmas lights that are wide angle and pretty damn bright, so you might find something like that.